Grace is led by a team of nine elected representatives to our Vestry.
Our clergy and staff facilitate ministry, worship, and care for the whole congregation.
Our clergy and staff facilitate ministry, worship, and care for the whole congregation.
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The Reverend Dawn Shepler, DeaconRev. Deacon Dawn (she/her) sensed a call to be a Deacon in 2009 while living in North Carolina. She earned her Master of Divinity degree from Illif School of Theology and was ordained in the Diocese of Colorado in 2017 while serving as a chaplain in Missouri. Dawn is a licensed Chaplain serving mental health patients in Harris County. At Grace, Dawn’s ministry is centered on serving, outreach, and pastoral care. She facilitates an open AA meeting on Tuesday evenings.
Dawn is a native Houstonian. After moving and traveling to many places around the US and abroad, Dawn returned to Houston in 2019, bringing her near her adult daughters and their families (including 3 grandchildren). Dawn’s adult son resides in Minneapolis. Dawn says of her calling to ministry: “I have always been a Spirit seeker, and as a deacon, I love helping others connect spiritually within and outside the church.” |
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The Reverend Dr. Alejandro Montes, Assisting PriestThe Rev. Dr. Alejandro Montes is originally from Peru and is a retired priest of the Episcopal Church. He served as the Vicar and then Rector of San Mateo Iglesia Episcopal for more than 20 years. He joined Grace in 2019 and currently leads our Spanish-language service. El es el padre de la misa en español en la tarde.
Padre Alejandro has also served as Chaplain in the Houston Police Department and has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work of reconciliation and social justice in the community, including March 29 being declared in Houston as “Father Alejandro Montes Day" by the Mayor of Houston. |
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Liz Luna, Children's MinisterOriginally from Reynosa, Mexico, Ms. Liz has lived in the Houston area for most of her life. She began volunteering as a Godly Play instructor when she was 15, and was eventually placed in charge of the Children's and Youth Chapel at St. Peter's Episcopal Church.
Ms. Liz believes that making faith and the Bible approachable to children is essential to establishing a good spiritual foundation. She emphasizes learning through hands-on activities and lectionary-based curriculum. She makes connections to the real world so that children will be able to understand that their faith is deeply connected to their real lives. |
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Paul English, Music DirectorPaul English is an internationally recognized composer, pianist, producer and educator. He has performed and recorded with such jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Arnett Cobb, Kirk Whalum and David Liebman and he has produced a number of jazz and classical recordings, including a 2009 collaboration with country legends Willie Nelson, Ray Price and Johnny Bush and a 2010 CD, Bring Him Home, a debut recording for lyric tenor, Todd Miller, and Hour of Tranquility for mezzo-soprano Sonja Bruzauskas (2015).
His commissioned compositions include works for symphony orchestra, choir, various chamber settings and several scores for film and mixed genre. He has performed extensively as a jazz pianist and with his crossover group, PICO (Paul’s Improvising Chamber Orchestra) and PIVO (Paul’s Improvising Vocal Orchestra), mixing styles and improvisational techniques. His sacred works have been performed locally at Christ Church Cathedral, Trinity Episcopal Church, Kingwood Presbyterian Church, South Main Baptist Church, Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church and Mission Bend United Methodist Church, including “The Gospel According to John Coltrane” for jazz quartet and choir (2007), “Wrestling with My God” for choir and chamber ensemble, text by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1997), and “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” for piano, cello and choir (2014). In January of 2011 as part of the Trinity Jazz Festival in Houston, he premiered his tenth jazz mass for choir and jazz ensemble, which included jazz arrangements of twelve pieces by J S Bach. Mr. English has served on the faculties of Texas Tech University, Sam Houston State University, San Jacinto College and Houston Community College. He is an alumnus of The University of Miami and The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University (B.M, M.M.), where he studied composition with Dr. Paul Cooper. Paul English is a registered Steinway concert artist. After several years as music director for the Trinity Jazz Ensemble at Trinity Episcopal Church in Houston, he joined Grace as our music director in 2020, where he masterfully arranges Episcopal hymnody in the jazz style. |
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Caitlin Powell, Head of SchoolCaitlin has a B.A. in Communications from Temple University and a Master’s in Education from Hunter College. Her nearly 10 years of experience in education is wide ranging, including certification and practice in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Special Education.
As a parent of two young children (both of whom attended Grace), a teacher, and an administrator, Ms. Powell has a keen sense of the importance of early childhood education. She understands that it is foundational to every child’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual development. |
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Italivi Mena, Tech Assistant & Office ManagerItalivi (Ivy) Mena (they/them) grew up in the Braeswood neighborhood in Southwest Houston. They attended Longfellow Elementary School, Pershing Middle School, and graduated from Bellaire High School. Ivy started working in the food industry at a young age and later found their passion for working with animals. They have worked at nearby clinics in the neighborhood as a Veterinarian Technician, and now they serve as both the Sunday Facilities & Tech Assistant and the Office Manager at Grace.
When not working, Ivy is either at school studying Microbiology or enjoying their leisure time by spending it at the library reading about astrology and politics. They feel welcome at Grace Episcopal Church. It reminds them of the warmth and acceptance they felt from the church they attended at a young age. They are happy to be here in such a friendly environment and can't wait to see what the future has in store for them. For tech-related inquiries: [email protected] For office inquiries: [email protected] |
Vestry
Grace's 2023 Vestry represents the people of the parish in leadership.
Right to Left: Robert Burlingame (Clerk), Bertha Spadone, Pat Mitchell, Brian Rockhold, Chantal Gaudiano, Colin Dunham,
Gail Keller, Jon Buchanan, Vyonne Carter-Johnson, Phillip Kimbrough, John Hannan
Right to Left: Robert Burlingame (Clerk), Bertha Spadone, Pat Mitchell, Brian Rockhold, Chantal Gaudiano, Colin Dunham,
Gail Keller, Jon Buchanan, Vyonne Carter-Johnson, Phillip Kimbrough, John Hannan